HC Deb 15 February 2001 vol 363 cc265-6W
Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Burmese regime concerning the treatment of the Chin, Kachin and Naga ethnic minority groups in Burma. [150585]

Mr. Battle

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) today,Official Report, column 266W.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions took place about atrocities against the Karen, Karenni and Shan people during the recent European Union fact-finding mission to Burma; and if this mission visited Karen, Karenni and Shan states. [150573]

Mr. Battle

EU Troika representative visited Rangoon on 29–31 January and had meetings with the regime, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic minority representatives. They discussed a wide range of issues, including human rights.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made during the last 12 months to the Government of Burma regarding atrocities against the Karen, Karenni and Shan people. [150575]

Mr. Battle

We remain deeply concerned about human rights violations of all Burma's peoples, including ethnic minorities, and take every opportunity to highlight our concern. I raised our concerns at the EU-ASEAN ministerial meeting in Vientiane, Laos, in December 2000. The Burmese Foreign Minister was present. I have also raised them with the Burmese ambassador in London. We also raise our concerns through our embassy in Rangoon and visiting officials from London, most recently with the Deputy Foreign Minister on 19 January 2001; with EU partners through the recent EU Troika mission and the EU Common Position on Burma, which was strengthened in April 2000 and subsequently renewed in October; and with co-sponsorship of UN resolutions condemning the abuses at the UN Commission on Human Rights in April 2000, and most recently at the UN General Assembly in November 2000.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to build a consensus at the United Nations Security Council in support of the establishment of an International Criminal Tribunal on Burma; and if he will make a statement. [150574]

Mr. Battle

We have raised our concerns over Burma with our Security Council partners, but there is no consensus at the moment for Security Council engagement on Burma issues, including that of establishing an international criminal tribunal.

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